Roughly 1 year later...

This time last year (think it was January) I posted this:

http://andrewdrisc.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/hi-im-andrew-and-im-underachiever.html

Which has been described to me as a very frank and honest post about myself, it was even mentioned in my work appraisal! Well as much as January is the time for planning, December should be the time for reflecting, I've just read that post back and... Hmmm a mixed bag of results at best.

Let's start with positives! Oh yes fitness. Decent effort PB's at 10k and half marathon and big PB's too. Had a big stall the last 6 weeks or so with a broken arm but come March 3rd I'm confident I'll be capable of a sub 2 hour half marathon in Llanelli. Not bad for a fat asthmatic! Still plenty to do though, still fat but not as fat (my work pass photos were beginning to look like before/after shots). I was actually going to the gym today but mother Driscoll is coming down shopping and so I'm meeting her for lunch instead! Dedication!

On a personal level, good stuff. Child #2 (Dylan) successfully birthed and growing. I was actually fully aware of his existence at the point of the other post, but it was early pregnancy and we hadn't said anything to pretty much anyone, so me announcing it to the 24 (actual number) of people who read the last post would have been silly! I still have 2 houses etc and home like is still good (hi Cerys!), Gracie is doing well in school and dotes on the baby. No complaints there.

Ambition wise, not so great. My 'chance' to try out a senior role and then apply for it was a truly epic epic fail. Crashed and burned in style and what felt like my last chance to progress failed. I tried to join another department, bang in another fail, I tried to join another company... Hat trick! There's still a possibility going forward, but by now its pretty obvious where then problem really lays.

Am doing some courses though, maybe I'll learn something.

Don't get me wrong I don't hate my job and I work with some good people. Generally people who've been there less time than me and have passed me by though. There's even patterns in fractals (Google or listen too Mandelbrot set, Benoit has sadly left us though... Mandelbrot's in heaven..).

Writing wise, including this I've posted 40 times on here. That's not too bad. Some with decent number of views too!

As I said previously, all I can do is try and on times I've crashed and burned and on some things I've done quite well. Oh well power on!

The blogger app (still on the nexus 7, tis lush) just asked me to tag my location... Northern Europe was the best it could do... Don't think this pad has GPS but well done for trying! If you ever wonder where I am in the mornings, its easy there's only ever 2 possibilities, either on manor way while a stagecoach driver looks confused at traffic or on the A470 while some stagecoach driver looks confused at traffic. After Christmas I'm switching to train. I'll take overcrowding ahead of taking 2 hours to get to work.

EDIT: Sorry Nexus, you do have GPS. Should never have doubted you!

Interviews!

Before I start, I will openly admit I really don't rate myself at interviews. I don't know if it's the confrontational nature of the across the table style they're traditionally carried out in or what, but I tend to talk crap and make myself look bad.

Well today I had... an interview. It was to join the lovely IT department in work, and although I have no idea if I have the job as of yet, if I had to guess I'd say... no.

By nature I'm a reasonably introverted person (as for some unknown reason I choose to point out today), any of my friends will vouch for this, I generally let conversation pass me by unless I have something useful, funny, incitefull, etc to add. This makes me come across as sometimes quiet (fair enough!) and sometimes distant (not always fair enough). In an interview situation each question has to be answered, and answered quickly and by me. No more waiting for my moment to strike, it's everyone stare at the shy boy.. come on... speak. I try I really do, but I don't think I've ever left an interview going, "Yeah, in the bag mofo, sign me up", today was no exception to that rule.

Worst thing is I can't really put my finger on what was sooooo bad, I think I put across knowledge reasonably well, I put across skills and personality reasonably well, I even used the odd touch of humour, which made them smile, not laugh though... But my brain knows I could have done better. I will also do the introvert thing now of analyse every second of it to the point where I can break it down and write a report on it, nothing beats over analysing stuff you can't do anything about!

To be honest my interview skills are shaky to the point I'm surprised I have a job at all, let alone at a company I like working for, so I can't complain. Equally I can't change my nature and who I am, I'm better now than I ever have been, but I'll never be extroverted and outgoing, that's my lot, and to be fair there are signs my child has some of the same traits!!

Once I've had a pint though the above rules don't always apply!

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

So Friday I stuck an application in for another job. Not another company, still staying with the Brotherhood of <company name>, but another department and a totally different role.

This has made me think, was it a good idea. I was ummming and arrring until the last minute, but in the end just hit the button and submitted it. That's another point, the application form was online, which despite being the total geek that I am, I didn't like. It almost felt like it was encouraging me to provide shorter answers, as is my experience using web forms, but I got over this and did a reasonable job I think.

Anyway, it made me evaluate where I am exactly, I have a job now I'm comfortable in, I'm good at, is secure. So why look for alternatives? The job I've applied for is in IT, and I think that was a strong attracting factor, as I've always fancied working in IT. I'm good with computers, and I think I'll be good at it with a little guidance.

But who knows if I've made the right decision, it's not like I'm certain to get it anyway, there's probably 200 people better for the job in the company, and it's not like I couldn't pull out.

Oh who knows, I'll see what happens.

At least I got to use a Bowie song as I title!

Pay Day!

Woo hoo it's pay day! This signals a very special time of the month, there's a gap, not a huge one but a gap nonetheless, between the 28th (Pay Day) and the 1st (Bill Day)

During this little period it's like living in a whole new financial bracket, the bank looks healthy, you don't feel a sense of intrepidation on approach to a cashpoint. The bank itself saves a fortune on red ink, but it's not all environmentally friendly as they tend to use more black.

Then the first comes round... Direct Debits shrink the balance back to where I belong and things return to normality and instead of marching into <insert generic game shop here> and demanding a latest release, it's back to hanging round in the preowned section or gazing through the window longingly like Charlie Bucket in the Roald Dahl classic. Gamestation have asked me not to, apparently my saliva running down the window doesn't help their sales.

Now don't get me wrong I'm not on the breadline, work doesn't exactly pay me money I have to carry home in my diamond encrusted wheelbarrow, but it's enough (Anyone wanting to offer me megabucks leave a comment, I'll have my people call your people... OK I have no people but if it creates the right image I'll get my mum to call and pretend she's my PA).

Speaking of stuff I can't afford, has anyone seen the new keyboard add on for Rock Band? Looks mighty classy, but is weighing in at £110 with the game. Looks like it's going to be a choice between that and Natal/Kinect (£120). I'll prob go for the rock band, Kinect still seems slightly gimmicky to me, despite a wise mate singing its praises. Plus the other half (an accomplished guitar hero player herself will love it, as she's also a piano player!) The clincher would be releasing some Ben Folds for it. Do it harmonix, do it now!

Anyway, I better be off, it's getting to the busy part of the train route and some stinking hobo will sit next to me at any moment doubtless.

Catch ya later!